The Trump administration formally appeals an order requiring refunds of roughly $166 billion in tariffs that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Trump imposed unlawfully earlier this year. The appeal comes as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) runs a tariff-refund process and handles claims for payments it says were collected under the invalidated “global” tariff authority. CBP filings indicate the agency is moving through the refund pipeline, including so-called “Phase 1” cases that involve the least complicated claims. One report says CBP has accepted and begun processing nearly $90 billion of potential refunds, while another cites figures showing billions have been approved for disbursement and tens of billions are expected to be processed.
Meanwhile, in the federal Court of International Trade in Manhattan, Judge Richard Eaton holds a hearing described as largely settlement-oriented because the underlying substantive legal issues have already been decided by the Supreme Court and other established law. The cases involve a wide range of importers, and CBP has estimated that more than 330,000 importers could be eligible. Some outlets also note the ongoing possibility that the administration’s appeal could affect timing or compliance steps, even as sector-specific tariffs are not affected by the Supreme Court decision.
